Tottenham Hotspur coach Ange Postecoglou expressed enthusiasm Tuesday as his players prepared to face Newcastle United in Melbourne, despite enduring a demanding 24-hour trip from England just hours after the Premier League season concluded.
The money-spinning friendly at the Melbourne Cricket Ground has attracted criticism, with Newcastle legend Alan Shearer labelling it "madness."
However, Postecoglou, returning to his home country for the first time in five years, urged his team to relish the experience of playing in front of 80,000 fans on Wednesday.
"I said to the lads, 'I know it's a long way, but I think you'll enjoy playing at the G,'" he shared in a pre-match press conference.
Despite the tight schedule, with Tottenham playing Sheffield on Sunday and immediately flying out, Postecoglou remained optimistic. "It's not easy... but when the boys walk out tomorrow night and there's 80,000 people at the G, the rest of it is irrelevant," he said. Key players like James Maddison, Micky van de Ven, and skipper Son Heung-min are part of the Tottenham squad.
Newcastle, also fielding a strong lineup with Kieran Trippier, Bruno Guimaraes, and Alexander Isak, sees the trip as a valuable opportunity.
Despite Trippier's reservations about the timing, given his likely involvement in the upcoming European Championships, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe viewed the journey positively. "It's a brilliant opportunity to showcase the club," Howe noted, emphasising the importance of connecting with their global fanbase.
Newcastle will also play a friendly against an A-League All Stars side on Friday in Melbourne, while Spurs will only participate in one match.
